Olney police need community support to purchase better bikes

Sgt. William Preis (front) and Officer Jim Vitaletti show the old bicycles that officers use. They are hoping for newer, safer models.

County police officers would like to increase bike patrols around the Olney area and are appealing to the community for support to purchase new and safer equipment.

Sgt. Bill Preis and Officer Dan Gunn attended the September meeting of the Greater Olney Civic Association to explain how bicycle patrols are being used in Olney and how police would like to enhance the program.

Preis, one of the dayshift supervisors, believes that Olney is well suited to bicycle patrols.

"Olney is very unique because there are a lot of bike paths," he said. "With the increase in traffic, we can often respond to calls quicker on a bike."

Preis said bikes would be helpful in many situations, such as in the case of a lost child.

"There are neighborhood paths that we can't drive our cars down," he said. "Sure, we could walk or run, but that would not be as effective as being on a bike."

He said the bikes are also useful in approaching criminal activity in progress.

"On bikes, we can discover something while it is happening instead of after the fact," he said. "They are definitely a useful tool, and we want to continue using them."

The Olney Chamber of Commerce helps fund the police presence in Olney. Chamber members purchased and renovated the trailer that houses the Olney police satellite station on Georgia Avenue and provide for its upkeep and utilities.

The idea is to keep the officers closer to the community they serve instead of them driving back to the district station in Wheaton to complete reports, use a fax machine and other duties.

Chamber member Paula Kahla told GOCA members that the chamber purchased two bicycles at the request of the officers seven or eight years ago. While those bikes are still operable, they are worn and fail to meet state safety regulations due to improper lighting and warning devices.

Kahla said chamber members estimate that each new bicycle would cost approximately $1,200. They would like to purchase three, if funds allow.

Gunn added that police officers are able to see, hear and smell more while on the bikes.

Gunn, who is assigned to evening patrols, said he has received an overwhelming response from the citizens as he rides though the communities.

"It makes us much more approachable," he said. "People like to see us out there."

On dayshifts, riding a bicycle allows Preis to have more interaction with the local business community.

He was able to assist business owners when a store in the Olney Village Center was recently vandalized.

"Their locks had been vandalized, so they couldn't even get inside to call for help," he said. "I just happened to be riding a bike [nearby], but I am not sure I would have been back there if I had been in the car."

Preis said that several officers were on bikes during Olney's National Night Out celebration in early August.

"Bikes allow us to move around easily at an event like that," he said. "Some of the officers left to respond to calls that night, and they were able to get back quickly."

Preis said the county supports the program by offering police mountain bike certification and supplying special uniforms because standard police uniforms are not conducive to riding in the winter or summer. The police department also has a budget to help maintain some of the bicycles.

"Those are some of the tangible ways they support us, but I also know Commander [Nancy] Demme is very open to any efforts to enhance service delivery to all of areas we serve, include Olney," Preis said.

Demme is the commander of the 4th District, which includes Olney.

Chamber Executive Director Virginia Mauk said that profits raised from National Night Out will allow the chamber to purchase one of the bikes, and chamber officials are hopeful that contributions from the community will allow them to purchase at least one more.

"Added police presence is always a benefit to the community," she said. "The bikes will allow the officers to have even more interaction with residents and businesses."

To make a tax-deductible contribution towards the purchase of new police bicycles, send checks payable to the Olney Police Satellite Station Fund/MCCF to P.O. Box 550, Olney, MD, 20830. For more information, call the Olney Chamber of Commerce at